Captain Sisko finds himself living the life of Benny Sadler - that of a black science fiction writer in 1953, a time of rampant racism and discrimination. In the course of his life he meets thinly veiled versions of the science fiction greats of the time, from Isaac Asimov to founding science fiction editor John W. Campbell.
Up until now, "Benny Sadler" has been willing to go along with the market requirement that the heroes of his well-loved science fiction stories be white men. But now Benny is struck by a new inspiration - to write about the adventures of Captain Benjamin Sisko of Deep Space Nine, a black man who is a hero to all. But is the world ready for a black hero?